Space Traffic Management

Op-ed | Building on the Artemis Accords to address space sustainability
It’s past time for a multilateral agreement on the principles governing space traffic management and sustainability, writes Jennifer A. Manner.

Omnibus spending bill funds Commerce Department space traffic management work
The Commerce Department will be able to accelerate it work on space traffic management after Congress provided the agency with most, but not all, the funding it requested for that effort.

Comspoc embraces startup mentality after AGI spinoff
ow that it’s spun out of Analytical Graphics Inc., Comspoc operates more like a startup focused on space situational awareness, space domain awareness and space traffic coordination and management than a corporate business unit.

Space traffic management bill clears Senate committee
A Senate committee approved a bill Nov. 18 that gives the Commerce Department authority for civil space traffic management (STM), but it still faces significant obstacles to win passage in Congress this year.

Commerce Department drafting space traffic management concepts as it awaits funding
The transfer of space traffic management responsibilities from the military to a civilian agency in the Commerce Department is moving ahead even though Congress has yet to provide funding and authorities.

Space traffic management idling in first gear
Disagreement about which agency should take over civil space traffic management has stymied progress.

U.S. military keeps sharp eyes on orbit as congestion grows
As they prepare for the handover to the Commerce Department, military space watchers and traffic managers face a daunting workload due to increasing congestion in space.

House Space Force Caucus co-chair voices concern about orbital debris, supports Commerce assuming debris-tracking role
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), a co-chair of the recently established House Space Force Caucus, said Oct. 28 that orbital debris is a major threat to a prosperous space economy and that better space situational awareness is crucial to protecting the sector.

Senate bill would assign space traffic management work to Commerce Department
The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee introduced a bill Oct. 21 to formally give the Commerce Department space traffic management (STM) responsibilities, but the funding required to carry out that work remains uncertain.

Webinar Replay | Space Traffic Management: Why Commerce, Why Now, What’s Next
Office of Space Commerce Director Kevin O'Connell and former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe join SpaceNews Oct. 13 to discuss what's next in the effort to improve civil space traffic management.

Startup seeks to automate process of avoiding satellite collisions
A startup is using an initial round of funding to build up tools it believes will provide more accurate notifications of potential collisions for satellite operators.

Space station maneuvers to avoid debris
The International Space Station maneuvered to avoid a potential collision with a piece of space debris Sept. 22, an incident the head of NASA used to advocate for more funding for the agency directed to handle space traffic management.

Industry supports giving space traffic management work to Commerce Department
Companies and organizations in the space industry support the recommendations of a recent report that the Commerce Department handle civil space traffic management, but say it’s more important that the government settle on an agency and move forward.

Report endorses giving Commerce Department responsibility for space traffic management
A report commissioned by Congress agreed with the administration that the Commerce Department is the best agency to handle civil space traffic management (STM) responsibilities.

House spending bill rejects Office of Space Commerce funding increase
A spending bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee July 14 once again rejects an administration proposal to combine the Office of Space Commerce with another office and increase its budget to perform space traffic management work.